kenrick



C. H. KENHICK.

` ALL W0`0D STEERING WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. I6, 1920.

Patented NOVI 7, 1922:y

2 sIIEETs-sIIEEI I.

c. H. KENHICK.l AI'.L- WOOD STEERING WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED OCT. I6, I920.

Patented Noia i922..

its

STT'S,

CHARLES H. KENRICK, OF ONAi/VAY, IVIICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN WOGD RIIVI CGMPANY, OF ONAWAY, MICHG-AN, A CORPORATIGN OF MICHIGAN.

ALL-Woon STEERING WHEEL.

Application filed OctoberlG, 1920. Serial No. 417,459.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. KEN

nick, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Onaway, county of Presque Isle, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in All-Nood Steering lNheels, `of which the following is a specification. f

' The present invention relates to steering wheels and particularly to steering. wheels adapted for use on automobiles, airplanes and motor boats. rlhe wheel is of the general type illustrated, described and claimed in the copending application of E. J. yLobdell, Serial No. 376,965, iiled April 27, 1920, in which wooden spokes are pro vided in stead ot the usual metallic spokes, whereby a wheel of great strength is realized which has the advantages of lightnesasiiperior appearance, greater cleanliness, and greatery comfort tothe user as compared with the usual wheel having the ordinary inetal spokes. As is pointed out inthe specification above mentioned steering wheels having hands will not be rendered cold and numb in winter weather. whichis often the case when metallic spokes are used and which intertere-s with the driverscontrol.

ln the application just mentioned rarmetallic hub is provided for the steering ywheel. which hub is provided with radiatingarms socketed toreceive the vinner ends of the spokes. While'this is'one manner of constructing'the wheel which has proven satisfactory inpractice1 l have lfound that a,

lighter and stronger wheel may be made by enlarging the inner ends oi the spokes and torming them vsubstanti ally arch-shaped,y providing means for lrmly securing the in` ner ends of the spokes together to forni a continuous hub, and providingalight mef tallic device, preferably of aluminum, forsey umn.

curing thesteeiing wheel to a steering 'col- The exact design and arrangement of the spokes and themetallic securing means may be changed as desired and the invention is not limited in its scope to the' exact embodiment disclosed in this application.

Figure l. is a plan View of a steering wheel the metallic securing member being omitted; i

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is an axial section through the steering wheel and showing the metallic securing means partially in section and partially in elevation; j

Figure el is a bottom View of the hub portion of the wheel partly broken away;

liigure 5 is a side elevation of one of the spokes; and i' Figurey 6 is a plan view of the same j The rim of the wheel is indicated at l0 and the 'our wooden spokes at 1l in the drawings. The outer ends of these spokes are fastened within the; interior of the rim by screws 12 and the inserted blocks i3, this construction being Jfully described and yillustrated in the copending application above mentioned and being an especially advantageous design inasmuch as it provides a rim which presents a'practically unbroken gripy pingsurface forthe hands of the operator. The inner ends of the spokes are enlarged and are segmental in form, the ends ofthe individual segments abutting along radial planes, as clearly illustrated in Figure l.

The adjacent faces of the segmental enlargements are kgrooved or mortised as at le and inserted intoyeach pair of adjacent mortises is a key l5 of wood the grain oi which extends ciicuinerentially of the hub to give the joint the greatest resistive force against breaking, in the operation of the wheel. The hub has an axial bore-16 to receive the meniber which secures it to the steering hub and has also a plurality or" spaced recesses 17 one of which extends downwardly into each spoke at a point close to the bore 16 and lying` along its central axis.

The wheel just described is light in weight, attractive in appearance, andfof great strength7 the construction whereby the innerends of the spokes are joined together iii the manner described giving a rigidity to thestructure not realized where this forniation of hub is not used.

adapted to t within the recesses 1T in the upper side of the hub ot the wheel. A clamping plate 23 in the torni ot an annular ring havinga plurality ot annular upwardly directed knife edges 2st lits loosely around the sleeve 18 and a nut having threaded engagement with screw threads on the outer surface of the sleeve is provided tor the purpose of raising and securing the clamping plate 23, a suitable opening` 26 tor a spanner being provided.

In assembling the wheel and its securing means the sleeve 19 is dropped tlneugh the bore 16 of the wooden hub with the pins 22 extending into recesses 17 and the clamping plate 23 and nut 25 placed in position on the lower side of the hub. By means ot a wrench the nut 25 may then be rotated and the clamping plate 2a moved upward until the knife edges 21 are smashed into the upper surface of the hub and the knite edges 24 into the lower surface of the hub. The clamping action of the plate 24 and Jdange 2T tends to prevent relative rotation of the wheel and sleeve, the knife edges 21 and 24 which are mashed into the wood., and the pins 22 extending into recesses 17, all materially assisting in preventing this relative ro tation so that the wheel is positively and irml prevented from moving relatively to the s eeve which in turn will, of course, be secured firmly on the steering column.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is 1. A steering Wheel comprising a continuous self-sustaining rim or' wood rounded in section, four wooden spokes of materially greater width than thickness entering and secured to said rinl at their outer ends and each having synnnetric'al enlargements on opposite sides at its inner end on the lines ot concentrar` circles the sides ot the en larged ends being in radial planes ninetyT degrees apart passing through the center ol' said circles beyond the inner end ot the spoke and means for securing said enlarged inner ends together to form a continuous hub circular in outline. y

2. A steering wheel comprising a continuous self-sustaining rim of wood rounded in section. tour wooden spokes or" materially greater width than thickness having 'Hat parallel upper and lower faces at their ends and an intermediate part at a slight angle tov these planes entering and secured to said rim at their outer ends and each having s *nnnetrical enlargements on opposite sides at its inner end on the lines of concentric circles the sides of the enlarged ends being in radial planes ninety degrees apart passing through the center of said circles beyond the inner end of the spoke and means for securing said enlarged inner ends together to form a continuous hub 1iicular in outline.

3. A steering wheel comprising a continuous self-sustaining rim ot wood rounded in section, tour wooden spokes ol' materially greater width than thickness entering aud secured to said rim at their outer ends extending inwardly7 on radial lines and. at an angle to the plane of the rim and each having symmetrical enlargements on op posite sides at its inner end on the lines of concentric circles the sides ot the enlarged ends being in radial planes ninety degrees apart passing through the center oi'V said circles beyond the inner end of the spoke and means tor securing said enlarged inner ends together to form a. continuous hub circular in outline.

l. A steering wheel coniprising a cout-inuous self-sustaining rim ot wood having a surlace curved in section a plurality ot wooden spokes secured toI said rim at their outer ends extending inwardly on radial lines and at an angle to th-e pla-ne of thf` rim the said spokes having arc-shaped laterally enlarged inner ends the side surfaces being in radial planes those of one spoke abutting those ot adjacent spokes and the upper and lower surfaces being in planes substantially parallel to the plane of the rim and inea-ns making contact with the upper and lower surfaces of said inner ends for clamping` them together.

5. A steering wheel comprising a continuous self-sustaining rim oit wood having a surface curved in section, a plurality of wooden spokes secured to said rim at their outer ends extending inwardly en radial lines, the said spokes having arc shaped in ner ends laterally enlarged the sides surfaces oit the enlarged portions abutting those of adjacent spokes forming a continuous hub with a cylindrical opening, a metal sleeve in said opening and means securing said inner ends together on said sleeve.

6. A steering wheel comprising` a continw ous self-sustaining rini` of wood having a surface curved in sectonz a plurality of wooden spokes secured to said rim at their outer ends extending inwardly on radial lines and at an angle to the plane of the rim, the said spokes having arc shaped inner ends laterally enlarged the side surfaces oit the enlarged portion abutting those oit adjacent spokes forming a continuous hub with a inname cylindrical opening, a metal sleeve in said openingv and means securing said inner ends together on sald sleeve.

7. A steering Wheel comprising a continuous self-sustaining rim of Wood having a surface curvedy in section, aplurality of Wooden spokes secured to ,saidy rim at their outer ends extending yinwardly on radial lines and having muchgreater Width than thickness, and vhaving gradually decreasing thickness from the inner portion to .the outer portion the said spokes having are shaped inner ends laterally enlarged, the' side surfaces of thek enlarged portions `being n in radial planes and abutting those of adjacent spokes forming a continuous hub With a cylindrical opening, a metal sleevein said openingL and means securing said inner ends together on saidsleeve. n f l,

S. A steering Wheel comprisinga continuous self-sustaining rim of Wood curved in section, a plurality of Wooden spokessecured to said rim at their outer ends extending inwardly on radial lines and having inner laterally enlarged arclshaped yends tv'ith abutting side surfaces forming a continnous hub portion with a kcentral opening and means partly Within said opening forengaging and holding said inner vends and adapted to securethe 'Wheel to a steering post.

9. A steeringfivheel comprising a continuous self-sustainingrim of Wood `curved ink section, a plurality ofA Woodenfspokesfof much greater Width than thicknesssecured to said rim at their outer ends extending' inwardly on radial lines and having inner laterally enlarged arc shaped ends *With` abutting side surfaces in radial planes forming a continuous hub portion with a central opening, the upperand lovver faces of said spokes at their ends being in planes parallel to the plane of therim andthe intermediate portions being at an angle yto that plane, and means for securing the inner ends together. f

10. A ysteering 4Wheelt comprising a continuous rim of Wood curved in section, a plurality of Wooden spokes secured to said rim at their outer ends extending inwardly on radial lines and having innery laterally enlarged arc-shaped ends -with abutting side surfaces forming a continuous hub portion o with a central opening and means for enf gaging and holding said inner-endsin huh form and adapted-,to secure the Wheel to a steering post.

11. A steering Wheel composed entirely of Wood comprising a continuous self-sustaining rim curved in cross section, a plurality of spokes of much greater Width than thickness secured to said rim attheir outer ends extending inwardly at `an angle to the plane of the rim, and having inner ends enlarged on concentric circular lines Withabutting surfaces in radial planes,

mortices in the n'ieeting faces of greater depth than vWidth extending inwardly from the outer ends of the enlarged portions and Wooden lkeys in said mortices securing said ends together their outer ends being flush with the outer surface of said enlarged portions.

12. A steering Wheel comprising a rim, a

kplurality of Wooden spokes the outer ends of the spokes being secured to the rim and the inner ends thereof being enlarged and provided with 'mortices in their adjacent portions having much greater depth than Width' and Wooden keys inserted into the `mort-ices to secure said inner ends together,

the grain of the Wood of they inserted keys lying rcircumferentially of said rim.

- 13. A steering Wheel comprising a continuous self-sustaining rim rounded in cross section and adapted to he grasped by the "hand of an operator, a plurality ofivooden spokes lsecured to said rim at their outer ends extending inwardly on radial lines and having innervaterally enlarged arc-shaped ends with abutting side surfaces forming a continuous hub portion With a central opening means for engaging and holding said ends and adapted to secure the Wheel to a f steering post.

14. A steering Wheel comprising a Wheel, a plurality of Wooden spokes the outer ends of the spokes being secured to the rim and the inner ends thereof being enlarged and provided with mortises in their adjacent portions and Wooden keys inserted into the ymort-ises to secure said inner ends together,l

the grain of the wood of theinserted keys lying circumferentially of said rim.

15. A steering Wheel conlprising a rim, four v`adi-al spokes having their outer ends secured to said krim and their .inner ends enlarged and segmental in shape with radial abutting surfaces, the adjacentl portions of said inner ends being mortised, and a radialfly' disposed Wooden key inserted into each pair of adjacent motises, the grain of each of said keys lying circumferentialiy of the 17.111 combination with a steering lvvheel having a Wooden hub portion, of

means for securing the same to a steering column comprising a sleeve ada-plied to lit over the steeringl column and to be Ytastened thereon and having` an exterior annnlar 'Hangelyingl on one side of the. Wooden hub and an exterior threaded portion lying on the opposite side oit the wooden hub, an annular ring;` member concentric to the sleeve and lying` on the opposite side oi the hub. and a elampinfm)` nut having threaded engagement With the threaded 'portion of the sleeve ifor moving the ring` member toward the `flange to clamp the hub therebetween and to hold the rii'ig` in snc-h position. i

i8. rlllie Combination with a steering; Wheel having' a 'wooden hub portion7 of means 'i'orsecnring the same to a steering` column comprising a sleeve adapted to lit over the steering` column and to be fastened thereon and having an exterior annular flangelying` on one side oli the Wooden hub, said VFlange having a plurality oi radial projections on the side adjacent the hub, and movable means on the opposite sider oi' the hub 'from the 'iiang'e and connected to said sleeve, said means cooperating with the flange in clamping the hub and securing the same against rotation relative to the sleeve.

19. The combination with a steering' Wheel having' a `Wooden hub portion, of means for securing the same to a steering' column comprising asleeve adapted to lit over the steering column and to be icas-tened thereon and having an exterior inner flange lyingi on one side of the Wooden hub, an annular ring member concentric with the sleeve and lying from the opposite side of the Wooden hub, said ring' member having' eoncentrie annular projecting): ridges on the side adjacent the hub, and means 'For moving the ring` member toward the 'flange to clamp the hub therebetween and to hold the same in such position.

20. The combination With a steering wheel having a Wooden hub portion provided with a plurality of recesses, of means for securing the same to a steering column comprising' a sleeve adapted to fit over the steering column and to be fastened thereon and having' an exterior annular liange lying on one side oi' the Wooden hub, said 'flange having a plurality of pins extending into the recesses in said hub to prevent 'relative rotation of said sleeve and hub, and movable means oonneeted to said hub and lying' on the opposite side thereof from the ilange Yfor forcing said hub against said flange.

2l. The combination With a steering,r wheel havingv a Wooden hub portion, of means for securing the same to a steering` hub comprising Ia sleeve adapted to tit over the steering,- hub and be fastened thereon and having an exterior annular flange lying on one side of the Wooden hub, the surface of said` 'flange adjaeent the hub being provided With a plurality oi radial proe jeotions and a plurality' of pins extending into the recesses of said hub, and means connected to said sleeve 'for holding' said hub against said flange.

22. T he combination with a steering' wheel having' a steering hub portion7 olI means 'for securing the saine to a steering; column comprising a hub adapted to lit over the steering,` column and to be 'fastened thereon and having an vexterior annular Piange lyingl on one side of the Wooden hub, said flange being provided with a plurality of projections on the surface adjacent the hub, and movable means connected to the sleeve for forcing said hub against said 'fiang'e and holding the same in such position that the projections on the flange are mashed into the Wooden hub whereby relative rotation ot said hub andy sleeve is prevented.

9,3. il. steering' Wheel comprising' a Wooden rim, Wooden spider arms havingf their vouter ends connected with said rim, and .their inner ends terminating' in integral segments to produce a hub-receiving' Circular seat.y wooden Wedges inserted in slits formed at the adjoining edges of said segments, the grain of the Wood of said Wedges being disposed transversely ot the grain of the Woot of said arms.

In testimony whereofl a'liiX my signature.

errantes H. mansion. 

